Hey guys!

I hope you are all doing well!

First, I want to thank AlexisHard for the lovely review! I'm fine, thank you! How are you doing? Trust me, me too! I so wished they both could have won, but unfortunately this isn't possible. At least not in this Winter Cup. Kisses!

Next, I want to thank Deliriumfanfics for the lovely review! So, regarding the story after the championship. I'm planning on continuing the story. I have a lot of ideas for this story which I hadn't been able to incorporate into the arc of Seirin. And then there is of course the Extra Game, that I'm planning on covering. And if you have any ideas for scenes, you can always PM me and tell me all about them! Thank you for your kind words and I hope you like this one!

Next, I want to thank Ellena Nomihara for the lovely review! You will have to wait slightly longer. Because this is sort of a filling chapter.

And last but not least, I want to thank Allena40 for the lovely review! Well maybe, you will get your answer to this question earlier than you anticipated. Your words mean the world to me! Thank you so much! I hope you like this chapter.

Enjoy Chapter 80! Sort of a filling chapter. Sorry for that!


Chapter 80: Throwback


The aftermath of our victory was the same like every other time. We were grinning broadly, still floating in the bliss that came with it. But what was more, was the fact that we were one step closer. One step closer to fulfilling the promise that we made. One step closer to become the greatest team in Japan. It had been a long way to where we were now. But I knew one thing for certain. I wouldn't want to be on this journey with anyone else. We were standing in a circle, all showered and changed, ready to prepare for our final opponent. But Akashi wasn't on my mind in that moment.

No.

The only thing that was, was the need to enjoy this moment with my team.

"We won!" Koganei exclaimed loudly, waving his arms in the air. "I can't believe it. We made it to the finals!"

My smile widened, while I nudged Kurokos side who was looking at his hand.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"I was so focused on passing." Kuroko began still looking at his hand. "I hadn't made a shot yet. That was my first buzzer-beater."

I chuckled, knowing he spoke the truth.

"How does it feel?" I asked, eager to hear his answer.

"I could…" And at last, he looked up, his face showing happiness like I had never seen it before. "Die happy now."

"Please don't die." I said immediately, still chuckling while the rest of the team was highly disturbed by the look on Kurokos face.

"No wonder you're so happy." Kiyoshi said smiling widely and chuckling slightly.

"You're the hero of the day!" Izuki chirped in, smiling softly.

"Don't celebrate too hard. The war is not over yet." Hyuga immediately butted in, trying to sound stern but the look on his face betrayed him. He was just as happy as Kuroko was. But Aida and her famous paper fan were right there to beat some sense into us. Quite literally.

"Pull yourselves together!" She said loudly. "One more game to the top. We're playing for Kaijō and every team we've beaten."

There was only truth to it. We were fighting for them as well. And we couldn't let them down. So, we got serious real fast. We were about to leave, when Kagami realised, he had lost his necklace. He immediately took off, and we looked after him. We waited and waited but he didn't return. Kuroko and I exchanged a look before we both began to walk. We were silent when we made our way back to the court. But what we saw there, was a sight so rare I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not. Midorima and Kagami were talking. And what was more, they weren't arguing.

We couldn't hear what they were saying to one another and even though I was curious, I didn't feel the need to interrupt them. Kuroko and I weren't alone for long. Another set of footsteps approached and then the newcomer spoke up.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" The voice that could only belonged to Takao reached our side. I looked at him, giving him a small smile, when Takao realised who we were observing. "Is Kagami with Shin-chan?"

He immediately began to laugh before he added. "I think this happened last summer, too."

"But then they were arguing." I said, not able to hide my amused smile. Takao looked at me, his blue eyes twinkling with delight, before he sighed. I immediately knew what was on his mind. His loss against Akashi.

"You did good, Takao." I offered, hoping I could make him feel better. "That pass was truly spectacular."

Takao smiled. Genuinely this time.

"And he finally acknowledged you." I added.

"Thanks, Masako." He said before placing a hand on my shoulder.

"But I don't feel like watching and laughing today." Takao said squeezing my shoulder before walking past us towards the other two. "I'm leaving. Good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks." Kuroko and I said in unison.

"Oi Shin-chan." Takao said loudly, at last adverting the two of our presence. "Let's go."

Kuroko and I didn't remain where we were. We approached them as well. Midorima looked at me, when I approached them. But something about the way he was looking at me made me uneasy. What had they been talking about?

"Kagami, let me tell you something." Midorima spoke up, his green eyes still looking at me but this time, they flickered also over to where Kuroko was standing. "There are two Akashi Seijuros."

It felt like a stab to my heart, the way he was saying it. Because Midorima was missing him, just as much as we were. But he couldn't do what he came here to do. I averted my eyes, trying to hide the emotions surging through me, when Kagami spoke up confused.

"What are you talking about? What does that mean?" He demanded answers from Midorima. Answers Midorima wasn't going to give. Because he knew we had to do the explaining. Midorima walked away from Kagami, when he stopped in front of us.

"Ask them."

He placed his hand under my chin and softly lifted my head up. His green eyes were soft and I smiled weakly, before I nodded. Then he retrieved his hand, and his old exterior was back.

"Later." He said to Kagami. "Do your best."

And then he walked away with Takao by his side. I exchanged another look with Kuroko and we both knew it was time. Time for them to know our story. We both looked at Kagami who looked puzzled. Not that I could blame him.

"What did he mean?" He demanded at once.

"We will tell you later." I said immediately and Kagami was about to argue, when Kuroko cut him off.

"We need to tell everyone." His eyes were averted and I knew this wasn't easy for him either. This was as much his story as it was mine. "They need to know everything before we play Akashi-kun. About our past."

Kagami was lost for words all while we walked back to the rest of the team. They however, knew at once that something was up. They could tell by the look on our faces. Kuroko quickly explained that we needed to talk to them and that it was important for the game tomorrow and so without further ado, we found ourselves at Kagamis place. A fact, he wasn't pleased about. He argued for a bit, but eventually he calmed down enough to sit down at the table where everyone had assembled. I sat next to Kuroko, for once not looking at anyone in particular. My eyes were solely fixed on my bracelet.

"Kuroko, did you start playing basketball in middle school?" Kiyoshi asked kindly, trying to break the ice.

"No." Kuroko said immediately. "I started my fifth year or grade school. I thought it seemed fun after watching a game on TV. I had a fairly ordinary reason for starting basketball. There were no clubs in my area, so every day I played at a park that had a hoop. One day, a boy reached out to me. We quickly became friends. He was better than me and taught me to play but he moved away during my sixth year, and we made a promise. We would join our middle school basketball teams and play against each other."

I listened closely, never having heard that part of the story, but unfortunately knowing the end of it.

"How did it turn out?" Furihata asked quietly. "He still plays, right?"

At this I looked up and at Kuroko. I didn't know that part, because back then I had already left.

"No." Kuroko said quietly. "He quit because of me. He will likely never forgive me."

At this I took his hand in mine and our fingers intertwined.

"It wasn't because of you." I said quietly, holding on to his hand more tightly. "You know it wasn't."

"Why? What happened?" Izuki muttered.

"Well, it might be best we start from the beginning." Then he turned to look at me. "Emiyo…"

I looked up into his light blue eyes. The colour that reminded my so much of my happy place. The ocean. "You knew them before me. Will you start?"

I took a deep breath, knowing the time had come to open up. To tell them everything. I nodded, I quickly looked around the table, before I looked back down at my bracelet. I was still holding Kurokos hands and that was what gave me the strength to begin my story. The story of how we met.

"One thing I remember vividly from my first day at Teiko, was how unbelievably nervous I was. I had just returned from France and I had no one here in Japan. It felt like a new beginning when I walked through these gates. The gates that would lead me to my future. The sky was unbelievably clear for a spring day. There was a slight breeze and Sakurai blossoms were flowing in the air. Their scent filled the air and there were people all around me, advertising for their club. It wasn't until I entered my classroom that I met the first of them. And he evidentially became my first friend."

I continued to tell them about Midorima. The first conversation we had. The way fate had brought us together. The way we became friends. I continued to tell them about Murasakibara. The first thing he pointed out, the way he managed to hide behind me in class and the way he ate his snacks. How we bonded over muffins and how we continued to establish this bond by baking together. I told them about my first week. How I found Momoi again. My first meeting with Aomine. I told them simply everything. For how much I blushed when I saw him shirtless, how bad I was feeling after eating the bento and how I felt the first time Aomine brought me home that day. I told them about Momoi bringing me to practice, where I was introduced to the coach, the captain and lastly Akashi.

"I was intrigued." I admitted looking up for the first time and everybody was looking back at me. "Akashi had this calm around him that drew me to him. I can't really explain it, but from the moment I saw him I respected him. And he respected me. And my respect for him only grew."

And so, I continued to tell them about our everyday life in Teiko. I also didn't forget to mention the incident with Haizaki and the way they protected me. I continued to tell them about their games, the training camp and my time with them individually, where I was taught their style. I did it with a smile on my lips, because honestly, I could finally smile about these memories. And it was important that they understood how they were before everything went downhill. I told them about Sports Day, about how I met Kuroko and how he made the team. He took over when talking about his first game, before we both told them about the Culture Festival. I told them about my birthday, then Akashis. It was also me who told them about a specific memory I shared with Akashi when the two of us were sitting in the Student Councils office, while the rest were off to lunch. Brushing upon the topic of his birthday, he told me about the party organized on his behalf.

xXx (Throwback)

"What is troubling you, Emiyo?" Akashi asked gently when he saw the look on my face.

"Please don't take it the wrong way." I said and Akashi nodded beckoning me to continue. "Is it that what you want?"

"It's a necessity as the heir of the Akashi empire."

I gulped.

"But it isn't something you want, right?"

His crimson red eyes were fixated on me and I remained silent waiting for him to answer.

"It isn't something I want. But it's a necessity and I can't defy my father."

I thought about what he was telling me.

"Can I ask you something?" I was looking into his eyes and he nodded.

"What does it mean to be the heir of the Akashi empire?"

He seemed definitely taken aback by my question. I immediately felt bad for asking.

"I'm sorry, Sei. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or pry into a matter that doesn't concern me."

He chuckled.

"You're not making me uncomfortable." He said softly. "You're just the only one who has ever been brave enough to ask me up until now."

"Really?" I asked surprised. He nodded.

"I know Shintaro is curious as well but he would never dare ask me." He chuckled shaking his head in amusement. "And here you are asking me directly."

"Well, it's part of you Sei." I said trying to explain my reason.

"I know it is." He said almost sounding bitter.

"But it's not the reason you're my friend." I said softly. His eyes widened and he looked at me to see if I was joking or not. I wasn't. He appeared lost for words.

"The reason you're my friend is because you are the calm and collected rock everybody can depend on. No matter how hard or hopeless a situation looks you're the shining light with the answers. You're sweet and attentive. You listen and help. I am your friend because of that. Not because of your name."

He was still to stunned to say anything so I squeezed his hand gently. This seemed to take him out of his stupor.

"You don't care about my name?" He asked quietly. I shook my head.

"Only about the pressure it's putting you under, but that's because I care about you."

Akashi looked blankly at me and I gave him a soft smile.

"I grew up surrounded by pressure." He started. "I don't know anything else."

"From your father?" I asked. He nodded.

"He expects perfection. Everything less isn't good enough."

"But." I said looking confused. "It's impossible to be perfect. I mean you're only human."

"I need to be the best at everything I do." He said. "And I am."

I was about so say something but I closed my mouth thinking about what he had said. I had never seen him loose, but did this make him the best?

"How did you find basketball?" I whispered.

"My mother." He said. I gulped. He had lost his mother when he was very young to an illness. "It's the only thing I have left from her."

"I'm so sorry." I said. "I didn't know that."

"You don't have to be sorry about it. It's my way of staying connected to her." He said. "But if I lose my father will take it away from me."

"He can't do that." I said shocked.

"But he will." Akashi said looking directly into my eyes. "That's why I will never lose."

"Sei how are you handling all this pressure?" I asked shaking my head in disbelief.

"I told you I grew up with it. I don't know anything else."

"And you're fine with it?" I asked quietly.

"I have to be." He said this time averting my gaze. "I have no choice."

"You have always a choice." I said immediately. He chuckled.

"I knew you would say that." He said. "But there isn't for me, Emiyo. Because losing isn't an option."

xXx

I told them the conversation at full length because it was part of the reason Akashi became the person that he was now. The sheer pressure the entire world was exhibiting on him. The pressure I never managed to take off him. The part where I failed.

Kuroko continued from then on. Told them about the first time they won Nationals. What had happened with Hanamiya Makoto and how he had to pay for what he had done. Kuroko telling everyone how each of them reacted. Maybe it wasn't necessary for them to know, but it was easier to let it all out. And they needed to understand how they all were back then. They needed to understand that Aomine could lit up the room with his smile, the sparkle that was always present in his eyes could be addictive and how his excitement for basketball never wavered. They needed to understand that Midorima, albeit never wanting to admit it out loud, was friends with all of them. They needed to understand the lengths that he was willing to go for me and his teammates. They needed to understand his wit and how he always managed to make me laugh. And for Murasakibara, they needed to understand the sweet person that he was. Immensely loyal, immensely protective and immensely attentive. How he could fool everyone by his seemingly aloof attitude while the reality was far from it. He listened. And he cared. And then there was Akashi. They needed to understand that he had been my partner in crime. That he never underestimated me. Always challenged me and respected me. I needed to understand that Akashi had been much more than his name. That he was this sweet person, who would always put others before himself. He was a natural born leader. He was our rock. Mine more than anyone elses. When I was upset, he always found the right words. They needed to understand the person that he was before he was forced to change. I continued to smile, when I told them about my first meeting with Kise and my poor impression of him. We continued to tell them about his introduction to the team and how he began to acknowledge Kuroko and I got over my grudge. We spoke about the good times until it was time for the bad times.

"Well, I'm certain you're all aware that Aomine was the first one to change. The gap in sheer talent got simply too wide. He lost his spark. I mean you need to understand that we're talking about the boy that loved basketball more than anything. He lived for it. And then he was all alone on top. And nobody could reach him. That was when we stopped playing ball on Sunday. This was the beginning of the end…"

I continued to tell them in length about how Aomine changed. How slowly but surely, he began slipping away from me. How hard it had been on me, but at least he still allowed me to be by his side. Until that day came. The day when I lost three of them.

xXx (Throwback)

"Don't be ridiculous!" Aomine said loudly and sounding increasingly frustrated. "Quit letting me past you!"

It had been a bad practice. I had seen it coming all along. Aomine had shown up and when it was time do our practice matches, he passed his opponents with ease. I saw how frustrated he was becoming by the lack of challenging opponents and then he finally had enough.

"Even if you can't stop me, if you do nothing, you're not helping at all!" Aomine said to the intimidated looking second year.

"I'm trying." He said apologetically. "You're just so good. None of us can stop you."

I knew from the look on Aomines face that the second year had said the wrong thing.

"Daiki." I said trying to get his attention, but Aomine didn't hear me.

"Damn it!" Aomine cursed loudly and began walking towards the exit. "I don't have time for this!"

"Daiki, no!" I said running after him.

"Dai-chan." Momoi said loudly and also following her childhood friend. We had the same look on our faces. It was despair.

"Wait. Aomine-kun." The coach said. But he was gone. Aomine had left. I was about to leave the gym when a hand was placed on my arm. It was Akashi. Before he could say anything else, coach spoke up.

"Continue with practice." He ordered. "I'm going to talk to him."

"I…" I started but I was immediately silenced by the look on coaches face.

"I said continue with practice." He said loudly and I took a step back. Coach left the gym without giving us a second glance.

"Emiyo." Akashi said trying to guide me away from the entrance. "Coach will take care of it."

I shook my head forcefully.

"I don't think he will." I said meeting Akashis crimson-red eyes full on. "Quite honestly I think he will make everything worse."

Momoi standing next to me gasped.

"We have our orders, Emiyo." Akashi said. "And as your captain, I have to tell you that you are forced to listen to what your coach is telling you."

"I don't take orders." I said getting ready to argue but Akashi smiled.

"I am not the one you're angry with, Emiyo." He said calmly. "So please don't let your anger out on me."

This took the wind out of my sails. I dropped my gaze and guilt was washing over me.

"I'm sorry, Sei." I said quietly, feeling slightly ashamed of myself. "I just don't know what to do."

"I know." He said wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tightly. "But for now, you have to trust your coach."

I nodded. I hope I just didn't make a big mistake.

When coach returned, he wasn't accompanied by Aomine. I knew this couldn't mean anything good. I exchanged a quick look with Akashi and I tried not to panic. Coach walked towards us, looking like he was bracing himself for whatever he was about to say next. When we had all gathered around, he spoke up.

"I told Aomine he doesn't have to come to practice anymore."

When I heard this my heart momentarily stopped. This, was the worst thing he could have possibly done. He had destroyed what coach Shirogane had done. He had destroyed everything. Anger flared up inside me when I heard his next words.

"He has to come to games and as long as we win, he can do whatever he wants."

I couldn't remain quiet anymore.

"What have you done!?" I said loudly and angrier than I had ever felt. I heard a collective gasp all around me and I was about to marge right over to the coach when two separate hands were wrapped around my arms in order to hold me back.

"What have you done!?" I repeated even louder to a stunned looking coach with a hint of desperation in my voice.

"You have destroyed everything!" I said not able to contain my anger. "Why couldn't you have trusted him?" I asked and I saw the eyes of the man standing in front of me widen.

"Why couldn't you believe that he wouldn't quit the team?"

I saw from the look on coaches face that I had hit the nail on the head. A merciless laugh was escaping my lips.

"I hope you can live with what you've done." I said.

"Masako!" Coach said finally waking up from his stupor. "Go run laps!" He said with as much dignity and sense of authority that he could muster. I freed my arms from whoever was holding me. I couldn't even look at my friends. Not while I was in this state. I continued to look at the coach and took a theatrical bow, while my eyes never left his.

"As you wish." I hissed and left the gym.

I didn't know why I did it. Why I was indeed running all the laps. Because every part of my body was urging me to find Aomine. But I needed to get a grip on myself and my emotions. The outburst I just had was justified. At least in my eyes. But that didn't cover for the fact that I was feeling bad. I ran lap after lap when I was joined by another figure.

"Tetsu!" I exclaimed and I immediately stopped running.

"Emiyo." He said giving me a small smile.

"Are you here to lecture me?" I asked a bit harsher than I had wanted too. "I'm sorry." I said immediately. Kuroko had not done anything wrong and I knew it. He shook his head and looked my in my eyes with so much sympathy I immediately understood that he was feeling the same way I did. He was simply not showing it.

"I will go talk to Aomine-kun." Kuroko said.

"Tetsu." I said shaking my head slightly.

"I know." He said. "I know Aomine-kun can hurt me. But I am not giving up."

"And you shouldn't either." He added and his light blue eyes met my silver ones.

"I…" I began but I didn't know what to say. Because I had not given up yet. But I feared my next meeting with Aomine. I wasn't going to deny that.

"You should go back in." Kuroko said. "Coach has left and the rest are cleaning up."

I nodded.

"Good luck, Tetsu." I said squeezing his hand before walking back into the gym. As soon as I entered, it started raining. Just what I needed to lighten my mood. I decided to leave the door open and when my friends heard my footsteps, they immediately turned to look at me.

"Emicchi." Kise said loudly, being the first who reached me. "I never thought I would see you this angry."

I shrugged.

"I had my reasons." I said not being able to smile.

"Emiyo." Midorima spoke up and I looked at him.

"Please, Shin." I said and I knew that he understood. I knew I should have gone about it in another way, but there was nothing I could change now.

"I'm just glad you're ok." He said placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded and looked at Akashi.

"I'm not going to lecture you either." He said calmly. "Mainly because I think you were right."

My eyes widened. I hadn't expected this.

"I'm not sure Aomine should be playing games whether he comes to practice or not." Kise said taking hold of the mop he had dropped moments earlier.

"I don't know what coach is thinking, but I'm hesitant to agree." Akashi said calmly.

I was about to say something when Murasakibara spoke up.

"About that." He said and the way he was saying it made us all turn around. "If we don't have to practice as long as we win, I don't want to practice anymore."

"Don't be stupid." Akashi said immediately. "Coach will never allow it."

"But I can't lose." Murasakibara said and at this I turned to look at Midorima. We exchanged a look and I knew he was regretting what he had said about Murasakibara not changing drastically.

"Besides." Murasakibara said. "I've only been listening to you because I thought I couldn't beat you, Aka-chin. But lately, I think that might not be the case anymore."

"I don't want to listen to someone weaker than me." Murasakibara said looking down at his captain who was standing in front of him.

"What did you say?" Akashi said in a dangerously low tone. I did the only thing I could think of. I positioned myself in between both of them.

"Atsushi!" I said in disbelieve. "Are you listening to yourself?"

"Move." Akashi said and he placed a hand on my arm and shoved me gently but firmly aside. When I saw the look on Akashis face my eyes widened. I had never seen him so angry. Murasakibaras word must have really rattled him.

"If I have to do it by force, I will." He said. "One-on-one. First to five."

I felt helpless once more when I saw two of my friends' glare at one another. This could go incredibly wrong. But there was nothing I could do about it, because something I wasn't going to do was starting to question Akashi. Akashi got hold of a ball and they both walked towards a basket. I made my way over to Midorima, Momoi and Kise, who were standing with the rest of the remaining players. They were thinking the same thing I did. It was written all over their faces. But just like me they weren't going to question their captain. And then the game began. I had expected it to be even, but I couldn't have been further away from the reality that was happening right in front of my eyes. Murasakibara was utterly destroying Akashi with the score being 4:0.

"What?" Midorima muttered sounding just as stunned as I was feeling.

"No way." Momoi said clutching her hands tightly together.

"I didn't think it would be this one sided." Kise said. I didn't say anything. My attention was solely focused on the two in front of me.

"Honestly." Murasakibara said looking down at a panting Akashi. "I'm pretty disappointed. I can't listen to you anymore."

He walked away and dribbled the ball lazily. My eyes didn't follow him. They remained fixed on Akashi. I knew what was going on inside of him. Akashi had never been on the verge of losing ever in his life. He was used to perfection. He was perfection. Loss wasn't something he was going to handle easily.

"Whatever." Murasakibara said loudly and continued to dribble the ball while facing Akashi. "Once I make this, I'm doing what I want."

Murasakibara was about to pass Akashi when the latter said shook me to my core.

"Because I always win, I am always right."

And then the ball was stolen out of Murasakibaras hands. I could see the shock on his face and I knew immediately that something had happened. Something was different. I looked for help at Midorima but his eyes were fixed on Akashi.

"What just happened?" Kise asked wide eyed.

"I don't know." Midorima said narrowing his eyes.

"You're pushing your luck, Atsushi." Akashi said picking up the basketball. "Don't make me so angry. I never forgive those who defy me. Not even my parents."

And then I saw it. His eyes. They had not its usual crimson-red colour. Or at least one had not, because Akashi had now heterochromatic eyes with the left eye being yellowish/orange.

I couldn't describe what I was seeing next, but it utterly disturbed me. Murasakibara was utterly defeated and in the end, he fell on the floor while Akashi scored the last basket.

When Akashi turned around and walked straight towards Murasakibara I reacted instinctively. I once again stood between them, but this time I stood protectively in front of Murasakibara my arms outstretched. The smile on Akashis face was something I had never seen before. It was cold and totally beside himself.

"Sei, stop!" I said and to my surprise he did.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked in a rather mocking tone. "Do you think I am going to hurt Atsushi?"

"Well, Sei wouldn't." I said standing my ground and meeting his eyes. "But I don't know what you would do."

Akashi gave a merciless laughter.

"Emiyo." In a tone that suggested that nothing good was going to come. "I am still the same."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're not." I said. "I don't know who you are! Because the Sei I know would never do something like this."

"You don't get it do you?" Akashi asked and this time he sounded threatening. "I have been there all along. This has always been me."

"No." I said shaking my head but Akashi spoke up once more.

"No is something you are not going to say in front of me."

I looked at him open mouthed.

"I will say whatever I want."

I didn't know what made me say it. Nor did I care about the effect it had on the new Akashi. The only thing I cared about was getting my friend back, because the person standing in front of me was not it. It was like someone had turned a switch, because everything I loved and appreciated about my friend was gone. And my entire body sensed it. Every hair on my body was standing up and everything within me was screaming to get as far away as possible because I knew I was talking to someone I didn't now. A stranger.

"Emiyo." Akashi said. "Not even you will defy me. Not when I am absolute."

He took a step towards me and I couldn't exactly comprehend what was going on but the next thing I knew was that I was falling and when I landed it hurt painfully. Akashi towered over me, both eyes fixed on me.

"The days you could talk back to me are over."

When I said nothing, a satisfied smile was forming.

"Good." He said. "You are starting to obey."

"Now to you." He said turning to Murasakibara. "You can do as you please as long as we win."

"What?" Murasakibara said looking confused.

"What are you saying, Akashi?" Midorima asked. "That's not what…"

"The same goes for you two as well." Akashi said looking at Midorima and Kise. "As long as we win, I don't care what you do."

Even though every part of my body was hurting, these words caused further pain. Everything was going wrong.

"At our level, forcing everyone to cooperate is pointless." Akashi said. "It's more effective if we don't."

"No." I said as loud as I could. Akashi immediately turned towards me and he chuckled slightly.

"Knew it wouldn't be that simple to keep you in check."

I stood up and I glared at Akashi.

"Are you telling us not to use teamwork anymore?" I asked meeting his gaze full on.

"That's exactly right." Akashi said. "Teamwork will only get in the way of the Generation of Miracles."

"Teamwork is what brought you this far in the first place." I said and I could feel every pair of eyes on me.

"Teamwork is what is holding us back." Akashi said and he took a step towards me. I threw my arms up in the air in frustration.

"Do you hear yourself?" I asked not even thinking about backing down. "Nothing is holding you back. Especially not teamwork."

"Emiyo stop talking." Akashi said and from his tone of voice I knew it was an order.

"I told you I don't take orders." I said standing tall and bracing for whatever was about to come. "You will listen to your captain." Akashi said simply.

"You are not my captain anymore, because I quit." As soon as I said it, I heard a gasp coming from all around me.

"Emiyo no." I heard Midorima say but Akashi lifted his hand and Midorima fell quiet.

"No." He said. "You don't quit."

"Well guess what." I said. "I just did."

"You will stay with this team." Akashi said. "Until the very end."

"I said I quit." I said loudly.

"And I said you stay." Akashi said. "You don't have to be a player anymore. We don't need you on the court anyway, but you will resume your position as second manager."

His words were like a slap to my face.

"Why should I do what you say? You're not my friend."

"I once was." Akashi began but I immediately interrupted him.

"My friend is Akashi Seijuro. Not the monster standing in front of me."

"I don't care what you think of me." Akashi said in a cold tone. "But I do know you, Emiyo. You would never abandon your friends." And at this he beckoned his head over to where Murasakibara, Midorima, Momoi and Kise were standing. It took me one look at my friends to realize that he was right. I wouldn't leave them. Akashi smirked triumphantly.

"And now." He said addressing me once more. "You can go after Daiki. Or what is left of him."

Akashi walked away and I was left standing frozen on the spot. This was the most hurtful thing he could have said to me. But these words were uttered by a stranger and I had to come on terms with the fact that the Akashi Seijuro I knew, didn't exist anymore. And I couldn't think of a way to get him back. Before I could fall apart, I was joined by my friends.

"You're alright?" Midorima asked looking concerned. I shook my head, but I didn't meet his eyes. My eyes were fixed on Murasakibara, who was standing further away from one another. "Atsushi?" I asked quietly and when he turned to look at me, I could see how angry he was.

"Emi-chin." He said in a tone that he had never used with me before. "I don't need your protection."

"What?" I muttered not understanding what was going on.

"I said." Murasakibara said louder this time. "I don't need you."

And then he walked away.

I could feel that something within me died. Not only did I just lose Akashi. I also lost Murasakibara. Not knowing if I could handle anymore, I ran out of the gym, tears clouding my vision. I heard my name getting called, but I didn't slow down. It was raining heavily outside and I continued running until I bumped into someone.

"Emiyo." Kuroko said taking hold of my arm and preventing me from falling on the ground. "What happened?" He asked. I simply shook my head. We were both drenched by the rain.

"Where is he?" I asked with a sense of urgency that caught Kuroko by surprise.

"Down by the river." He said. "But Emiyo it isn't good."

"I can't lose him too." I said and before Kuroko could say or ask any other thing I started to run. But this time I had a destination in mind. When I reached the river, I was soaking wet. But I didn't care. All I cared about know was Aomine. I found him sitting on the grass, his eyes fixed on a point before him. When I approached, he turned to look at me, but this time he didn't look surprise to see me here.

"Haven't you given up on me already?" He asked while standing up to face me.

"Daiki." I said and I unconsciously clutched the necklace hanging around my neck. "Why should I give up on you?"

"Because the person you want me to be is gone." He said and when I saw the way he looked at me I took a step back. There was not a single emotion visible. He was like an empty shell and when I looked into the all too familiar deep blue eyes the spark was gone. They weren't filled with life anymore.

"Don't say that." I said desperate.

"But it's the truth, Em." He said. "I am not the same person anymore and you need to accept that."

"How can you expect me to simply accept that?" I asked taking a step towards him. "You're my boyfriend."

"How can I be your boyfriend if you can't accept what's become of me." He said and his words made my stop in my tracks. "I don't even know how to act around you anymore. I don't know how to be with you. Not when you're still holding on to the old me."

"The old you." I said the desperation increasing within me. "Daiki, you're still there."

"You don't get it do you?" He asked beginning to raise his voice. "This is me. Stop trying to hold on to something that isn't there anymore".

"What isn't there anymore?" I asked and then I pointed between the both of us. "There isn't anything there anymore? Between us?"

"No." He said and then he averted his gaze. His eyes fell on the leather bracelet he was wearing. The one I had given him on his birthday. And then he did something, I had never dreamed he would do. He tore the leather bracelet from his wrist and threw it away, somewhere behind him.

"There isn't anything between the both of us." He said, his eyes empty of all emotions. "You're holding me back, Em. You're not accepting who I am. But this end today. We end today."

"Our relationship is over." He said and then he turned away and walked away. I fell to my knees and began to sob uncontrollably. Daiki was gone. My Daiki was gone. And for the third time today, something deep inside me died. I was hurting internally so much; I almost couldn't handle the pain. I cried and cried until I had no more tears left. The sky was getting dark and when I finally had the strength to get up, I felt empty. Empty of all emotions. Now I was a shell. A shadow of my former self.

xXx

My tears had started to fall around the time when I told them that Aomine had walked out of the gym. It was still hard. This day marked the beginning of the end. It was the first time the people in this room heard what had happened and been said to me that day. Even Kuroko never knew the full extent of it. And even though it had been a long time, my emotions were still raw. It still hurt. And I knew it would for a long time. However, I continued to tell them our story. How bad things got after that day. Kuroko was kind enough to take over, when it got hard for me and at long last, we got to the Finals of the third Nationals and to what they did for me to leave them.

xXx (Throwback)

And then came Nationals. We had qualified for the third year in a row and in my mind, there was no doubt we would be winning it. The boys were simply too good for anybody to stand a chance really. When we arrived at the gym, where the tournament would be held, the team was immediately bombarded by photographers and journalists. But this time, none of them paid them any attention.

"It's Teiko." I heard someone say.

"They're as imposing as professionals." I heard another say. I looked at my friends walking in front of me. They all had their game face on and I had to admit they were intimidating, but I couldn't help but to still see the boys I once loved. We made our way to the changing room and once we entered nobody bothered to talk. The coach had nothing to say and apparently neither had Akashi. We made it into the semi-finals without much of a trouble when something unexpected happened.

"We're playing Meiko in the finals." Kise said looking over to the other side of the field where loud cheers could be heard.

"It's the same no matter who we play." Murasakibara said lazily and I shook my head. Unfortunately, I agreed with him.

"Coach." I heard Kuroko speak up and this was so unusual that I immediately looked at him. He looked so determined, it took me slightly aback.

"What is it?" Coach asked and Kuroko had the attention of the entire team.

"Could I be a starter in the next game?" He asked solely focusing on the man in front of him.

"You're raring to go." Kise said but Kuroko ignored him.

"What's gotten into you, Kuroko?" Midorima asked but Kuroko ignored him too.

"Do you have some reason for this?" The coach asked.

"Hai." Kuroko said.

And coach granted him his request. I didn't know what his reason was and I wasn't sure if it was still my place to find out. But when I saw how he played, I made my decision. Something big was going on to see him go all out like this. He wanted to be in the finals. No matter what it took. I saw Meiko observing us and while most of them looked shocked and a bit scared by what they were seeing, one member was smiling looking proud. When I took a closer look at him, I realised he looked familiar. And then my memory came back. He had been talking to Kuroko last time at Nationals. So, they were friends. And we would meet his friend in the final.

And then something happened. Midorima was blocking the way of number 8 when Kuroko came running over. I knew it was an accident because there was no way of him seeing or knowing Kuroko was there, but when number 8 brought his elbow down it collided mercilessly with Kurokos head. Kuroko immediately fell down, unconscious. I was the first one to react. I ran over to him and immediately kneeled down in front of him.

"Tetsu." I said trying to wake him up. "Tetsu!" I said more forcefully but he didn't react.

"Someone help!" I screamed, terror filling my insides. I looked around helplessly and when I saw that none of his teammates were moving, I started to get angry. Their friend was lying on the floor and nobody was doing anything. They were just standing there, starring at Kuroko like they didn't understand what was happening.

"Somebody move!" I said looking angrily around. And then they came. The medics. They took a quick look at him before they decided to bring him to the infirmary. I immediately stood up, decided to go with them, when someone stood in my way.

"You're staying here." Akashi said in his cold voice.

"Watch me." I said with hatred in my voice and I tried to walk past him but he held me back by my arm.

"Momoi-san is going. You're staying. Until the end."

I was about to argue, when the coach spoke up.

"Masako-san, do as he says."

I looked at the coach in utter disbelieve and I couldn't help but to think this was payback. Payback for the time I had called him out in front of everybody. And this was how I had to pay for it. By letting my injured friend go and being forced to watch the ongoing match in front of me. I wordlessly sat down and refused to look at any of them. I was boiling inside. After the game had ended, I stood up immediately. I was about to go, when I felt a hand on my arm. When I looked back, I looked into the heterochromatic eyes of Akashi.

"What?" I said.

"I'm coming with you." He said smirking slightly.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

He shook his head and I looked at him, my face blank of all emotions. I began to walk and he walked right beside me. When we reached the infirmary, I saw Momoi standing in front of the entrance. But she wasn't alone. A second figure wearing Meikos uniform was talking to her.

"Who are you?" Akashi asked and the boy turned around. It was his friend. I looked between him and Akashi and immediately fear flared up inside me. Fear of what Akashi might do.

"What do you want with Tetsuya?" Akashi asked.

"I'm Ogiwara Shigehiro of Meiko Middle School. I came to see Kuroko." Ogiwara spoke up and I had to admire him that he was able to talk back to Akashi. Most of the people he spoke to were too afraid to do so.

"Our opponent in the finals." Akashi said. "Unfortunately, Tetsuya won't be playing in the next game. Though it won't change anything. Good luck." And with this he passed Kurokos friend.

"Hey wait." Ogiwara said turning around. "Do you enjoy playing basketball?"

My eyes widened when I heard this question. Just how deep was this friendship with Kuroko?

Akashi didn't say anything. He smiled slightly and menacingly before he walked away and entered the infirmary.

I passed Ogiwara and I gave him a small smile.

"I will tell him that you were here." I said before I entered the infirmary after Akashi. I had heard what he wanted me to tell Kuroko and I was sure to be the messenger. Kuroko was unconscious for a very long time. In fact, the final would start soon and he still wasn't awake. Akashi, Momoi and I were all gathered around his bed when finally, he opened his eyes.

"Tetsu-kun." Momoi said immediately looking beyond worried.

"How do you feel?" Akashi asked and I noticed that Kuroko had a hard time focusing on the people around his bed.

"Akashi-kun, Momoi-san, Emiyo." He whispered. "How did the game go?"

"We won, of course." Akashi said. Then he added. "The finals start in five minutes."

Hearing this Kuroko immediately sat up looking determined.

"I'm playing." He said and I immediately placed my hand on his shoulder.

"No." Akashi said firmly. "The doctor told you to rest. You will stay here."

"But…" Kuroko said but Akashi interrupted him.

"I know." He said. "It's Ogiwara, isn't it?"

Kuroko looked shocked that Akashi knew of his existence.

"I saw him in the hallway." Akashi elaborated. Then I decided to speak up.

"He said: We will play again sometime."

Kuroko looked crestfallen. I didn't know what these words meant for him, but it pained me to see him this way.

"I see." Kuroko said quietly.

"Akashi-kun." He added with a sense of urgency which caught me totally by surprise. "Please take the finals seriously." He gripped the sheets on his bed tightly. "Please." He added. Then Akashi stood up.

"You don't mind if we crush them?" Akashi asked.

"It would be worse if you held back. I'm sure that's what he would say."

"Fine." Akashi said and the way he said it made me feel uneasy. Something wasn't right. I could feel it. My feeling didn't go away when Akashi addressed me.

"Emiyo." He said. "You may stay with Tetsuya. Momoi, you come with me."

And before I could ask why all of the sudden, I was allowed to stay by his side like I had wanted to this entire time, he left the room. Momoi right behind him.

"What happened after I got unconscious." Kuroko asked and I shook my head.

"You don't want to know." I said while sitting down.

"Did you get into an argument with Akashi-kun again?"

I shrugged.

"It was more of a disagreement really."

"Emiyo." Kuroko said and I looked at him. "Why do you keep fighting with him?"

I looked at him for a long time before I said.

"Because, I won't be silenced. Not by Akashi. Not by anyone, really. Not when so many things are happening that are simply wrong."

Kuroko smiled softly at me.

"I admire you, Emiyo." He said and I smiled at him.

"I will always stand up for my friends." I said.

"I know." Was all Kuroko said before he fell asleep. I watched Kuroko for a long time. The minutes were passing and the game had long started. I could have gone and watched the game, but it would end the same, my presence wouldn't make a difference. When the door opened and Momoi walked in, I immediately looked up and Kuroko shifted in his bed. She closed the door and came walking over to us.

"How did the game go?" Kuroko asked.

"The fourth quarter just started." She said. "We have a huge lead."

Hearing this Kuroko immediately sat up.

"I'm going to check it out." He said with a sense of urgency.

"You can't, Tetsu-kun."

"I want to see for myself how it ends." He said and from the look on his face I knew that Momoi wasn't going to say no and I wasn't going to be the one stopping him.

"Alright." Momoi said and all three of us walked out of the infirmary. When we reached the first TV, who broadcasted the game we stopped. I looked at the screen and I immediately noticed that something was wrong.

"That should be enough of a lead." Momoi said. "Three-time champions, here we…"

But when she saw the look on Kurokos face she stopped. Then she looked at me and her smile fell, because I wore the same look on my face as Kuroko.

"No." Kuroko said.

"What?" She asked surprised.

"Something is wrong with this game." Kuroko said and before anyone could stop him, he ran into the gym. I followed him wanted to see it first-hand what was happening. When we entered it stood 111:9 for Teiko and 15 seconds were left in this game. Meiko looked defeated and out of breath, but one was still standing. Ogiwara.

"We still have time! Don't give up!" He said loudly.

"What are you talking about?" One of his teammates asked. "The game is already…"

"I know." Ogiwara said, despair in his voice. "But we can't just give up. If we have to lose, let's at least make one shot and loose with dignity!"

Ogiwara was in possession of the ball, when he stood in front of Aomine. And then he actually managed to pass him. I shook my head. Something was definitely wrong. Nobody is able to pass Aomine. Only if he lets them. And then realisation hit me. He did let him pass. Ogiwara jumped up and he released the ball. I watched with dread how the ball went flying towards the basket. But he missed. The ball bounced from the rim of the basket.

"Hey, Murasakibara." Aomine said loudly.

"I got it." Was all Murasakibara said before he jumped up and to my horror, dunked the ball into his own basket.

"We were trying to let you have your moment." Aomine said to Ogiwara while walking back. So, I had been right. He had let Ogiwara pass.

"But look, they're matching." Kise said excitedly and I followed his line of sight. "We did it."

And what I saw made my inside freeze. 111:11. I felt sick.

"Ogiwara-kun." Kuroko said loudly and when he turned to look at his friend, I could see the realisation in his face. They had utterly defeated him. When I looked at Kuroko, I saw the shock in his face. And something else. Betrayal. There was no other word for it. By what he thought were his friends. And then he started to cry and anger like I had never felt before swirled up inside me. Everything inside of me was hurting. My chest, my heart. Even breathing was getting harder and harder. What happened next was like a blur. But when we finally were alone in the changing room, I came back to my senses. It was only us. Akashi, Midorima, Aomine, Murasakibara, Kise, Kuroko, Momoi and I. Nobody was else was there. And it was probably better this way. Kuroko was sitting on the bench, his shoulder hung low.

"Why did you do that?" He asked quietly and I knew he was addressing Akashi. It took everything I had within me to keep quiet. I needed to let Kuroko have this chance of asking and Akashi this chance of defending, before I was going to say my piece of my mind.

"We simply controlled the game." Akashi said calmly. "We were far more focused than if we were just trying to score."

"That's not what I meant! I told you…" Kuroko said but Akashi interrupted him.

"Why didn't you ask us to take every game seriously? Do you ignore it when you have no personal stake in the game and ask for special treatment against your friend?"

That was cruel. Even for Akashi.

"What?" Kise said looking surprised. "Your friend was on that team? You should have told us."

"Yeah, right." Murasakibara said. "We would have been bored just scoring. Right Mido-chin?"

"It doesn't matter how you play." Midorima said. "I simply do everything humanly possible."

"It's not that we don't play seriously." Aomine said. "We can't since they're so weak. With that much of a gap between our abilities, how could we have played a game that would satisfy both sides?"

"I don't know." Kuroko said. "But that victory pained me more than any failure. Even if there was no other way, I don't want to feel that way again."

"So." He said sitting up. "I'm quitting basketball."

And then he left. I didn't even hold him back.

I was physically shaking with anger and then Akashi turned around and to my horror he smiled at me.

"Now to you." He said and I noticed how everybody was looking at me. "Go ahead. Say what you have to say."

"How could you?" I said shaking my head, anger emitting from every pore of my body. "How could you do this to him?" I said louder this time. "To Tetsu." I was screaming now. "Tetsu. The one who is supposed to be your friend."

And for the first time for what felt like an eternity I looked into their eyes. First, I looked at Akashi and his heterochromatic eyes, where the crimson-red one was so painfully familiar. Then I looked into Murasakibaras purple eyes. The eyes who had meant safety for as long as I had known them. To the deep-blue eyes of Aomine, who had meant happiness. Over to Midorimas green eyes, which belonged to my first friend at Teiko and then last over to Kises golden eyes, who belonged to the last friend I had made at Teiko. All so familiar but now I felt nothing other than pain.

"What happened to all of you?" I continued, tears now streaming down my face. "I don't recognize any of you. Never in a million years did I think you were all capable to do such a thing."

I looked at all of them and dared them silently to contradict me. None of them did. But when my eyes fell back on Akashi, I saw that he was silently laughing.

"Oh Emiyo." He said and now he was laughing full heartily and then he suddenly stopped and turned around to look at the others. And then he spoke up.

"We are destined for greatness." He said. "We have achieved what others dream of their entire life. But something is standing in our way to achieve our true potential."

I snorted and he turned to look at me.

"Oh yes, Emiyo." He said. "Something is standing in our way. Do you want to know what it is?"

"Go on." I said challengingly. "Enlighten me."

"You." Was all he said. This simple word felt like a slap to my face.

"Me?" I asked in utter disbelieve.

"Oh yes." Akashi said smiling when he saw the effect his words had on me. "It is written on all of their faces. Even though some of them might not want to admit it, part of them still cares for you and your opinion. But as long as they think that even the tiniest part of friendship is left with you they won't be able to reach their full potential."

He remained silent for a while letting the effect of his words sink in.

"Emiyo." He said. "You are the one holding us back."

I stared at him for a moment, too stunned to speak.

"That's not true." I said with a sense of urgency and then I looked at my friends. But what I saw in their eyes hurt me more than anything. They were agreeing with Akashi, I saw it in their faces. I turned to look at Kise and Midorima. The last two who I had hoped would contradict Akashi. But when I met their eyes, I could see it clearly. They both believed Akashi too and to my horror they both turned away from me and the last shred of hope I had had in me dissolved.

"Fine." I said not a shred of emotion left in my voice. "I'm leaving."

"No, Emi-chan." Momoi said and I turned to look at her, tears were streaming down her face.

"No, you won't." Akashi said and anger flared up inside me.

"Who do you think you are?" I screamed. "I do whatever I want!"

Akashi chuckled.

"Fine, then. Leave." He said. "But Emiyo. One last thing."

I remained silent bracing myself for whatever was about to come.

"Once you leave us you won't be able to play basketball anymore." He said simply and my eyes widened. "Your style is based on trust and it involves every single one of us. Why do you think I allowed you otherwise to quit as a player? You wouldn't have been able to remain beneficial from the second year on forward. You are nothing without us."

His last words hit me harder than I had expected.

"Good that I hadn't planned on continuing with basketball then." I said chuckling dryly. "I am quitting basketball and I am leaving. But you got one thing wrong there, Akashi." I said and I looked straight into his eyes. "If you even think for a second, I am nothing without you then you are gravely mistaken. I have always been my own person and I have never been defined by any of you."

I walked towards the door before I turned around one last time and looked at every single one of them.

"Goodbye." I said coldly. "I wish you all the best. I hope you all find what you were looking for because I doubt, I will see you again."

And with that I left.

xXx

There was a moment of silence, before Kuroko told his end of the story. How we went to find his childhood friend only to find that he had quit. And through it all I felt bad that I hadn't been there for him. Because I was long gone by that point.

"So, you're the bad guy?" Kagami blurted out, looking more than bored with his head perched on his hand. "I shouldn't have worried. The only surprise was Akashi's dual personality." Then his eyes flickered from Kuroko over to me. "And you! You're a bloody saint. I will hit each and every single one of them for the way they treated you! However," At and this he looked back at Kuroko. "If you thought he was wrong, you should have hit him."

"Is your answer always going to be violence?" I asked, chuckling dryly, while wiping some tears away.

"Act first and worry about logic later." Kagami reasoned. I looked at him, trying to decipher if he was serious or not and unfortunately, he was. He shook my head, letting out a low sigh. I didn't know why but Kagamis reaction was exactly what I needed. He was so chill about our story. I frankly hadn't expected it. Kagami continued to lecture Kuroko about how he should have handled his childhood friend quitting. And what was more he didn't tolerate Kuroko taking all the blame nor did he resign Kuroko for what had happened. His speech was really cute. In my opinion at least.

"You're right. Well said, Kagami. But…" Hyuga said standing up, when suddenly his demon persona was taking over. "you're dominating the conversation. We've got lots to say, too!" And with a well-placed hit, Kagami went down. Unfortunately, he then turned towards us and I gulped.

"Kuroko, Masako, come here! You need to be toughened up, too!"

And before we knew what hit us, we were indeed toughened up by our captain. Some members happily helped him, while others went and came to our rescue. But Kuroko and I were laughing. Not because we enjoyed getting hit, but because it proved how much they cared for us. And how they still accepted us even after everything we told them.

When the night came to an end, I felt like some weight had been lifted off my shoulder. We finally told them everything and what was more, they knew about Akashi. The person he was before the change and the person after. Tomorrow, it would be the end of our road. Tomorrow, we would either come out victorious, or we wouldn't. Tomorrow, it was the end of the Winter Cup and the end of this team as we knew it. My eyes had flickered over to Kiyoshi on more than one occasion that evening, because after all, it was our promise to him that kept us all going. Part of me was ready for tomorrow, but another part of me was worried. Worried what the future would hold. The team left one by one until Kuroko and I were the only ones left.

"I think I better go now." I said looking at the clock and then at the door. "Thanks for listening Taiga."

"Yeah, no worries." He said rolling his eyes, before he buried his hands in his pocket and looked up at the ceiling. "Be ready for tomorrow. Big day ahead."

I nodded, smiling at the sight of him before I turned to look questioningly at Kuroko.

"I'm staying for a bit longer." He replied, his calm blue eyes boring right into my soul. I nodded.

"See you tomorrow then." I replied before waving at my two friends and leaving the apartment complex. But as soon as I stepped outside, and the cold winter wind graced my face, I knew that I was being watched. And before I could do anything about it, a black car with tinted windows, arrived in front of me. A man, clearly the driver judging from his uniform, stepped out of the car, before bowing in front of me.

"Master Akashi is requesting your presence tonight." He said in a calm and polite tone.

"I think you've got the wrong person." I said, pleased to see that my voice wasn't shaking as was the rest of my body. The driver looked like he had been warned I wouldn't be cooperating, so he opened the backseat door, to reveal another figure. I had to crouch down a little to see who it was and I didn't know what I expected, but I certainly had not expected Mayuzumi Chihiro.

"Will you please come in. I certainly have better things to do than to be here and waste my time arguing with you."

This took me certainly back. Especially when he didn't even look up from his light novel to greet me with a look or something. No, he looked bored and continued to read.

"Well, it's not like I asked you to be here." I said crossing my arms in front of me and looking at him challengingly. He sighed, before carefully marking the page where he had been reading and then looking over at me.

"No, but my captain has. And he usually gets his way. So, please make this easier for the both of us and get in the car."

I continued to look at him, his blank gaze highly unnerving, when eventually I got in. The door immediately closed behind me, while I started to take in my surroundings. It didn't take long for me to realise that this car and this driver all belonged to Akashi personally. So, there was no way out really. I looked back to the boy next to me, who had his nose already back in the book.

"What did you do to be forced to collect me?" I asked, eyebrow raised. He sighed again. At first, I was convinced he would simply ignore my question when he eventually spoke.

"Nothing."

At this I snorted.

"Yeah, right." I continued to look at him, when he raised his eyebrow, still looking bored.

"I was the most suited. That's why. I received very clear instructions about what I had to do and what not. My teammates wouldn't have been able to honour these orders. That's why I was chosen."

"Let me guess." I said leaning slightly over to him, so I could better decipher his reaction in this dimly light. "You are under no circumstances allowed to tell me anything about the team. Nor about Akashi and his way of handling the team."

I had hit the nail on the head. I could tell.

"Does that mean you aren't allowed to make conversation with me?" I asked, smirking.

"The question is, if I want to." He muttered and I chuckled.

"You do." I said not even feeling in the slightest bit ashamed by how sure I was about that. A flash of anger crossed his eyes and he was about to speak up when I cut him off. "You're curious. That's why. You want to know who I am and why Akashi has gone to such lengths to get me somewhere. You want to know who I am to your captain."

I had surprised him. But he wasn't going to admit it and I was fine by it. He leaned more into his seat; his light novel quite forgotten.

"And are you going to answer it?"

"What do you think?" I asked, my silver eyes fixed on his. He shook his head and I smiled. "You're quite right. My relationship to Akashi doesn't concern you. It's between him and I."

"So, you're wasting my time." He muttered harshly.

"I was the one kidnapped. Not you."

"We're not kidnapping you." He said at once and I merely raised an eyebrow.

"Is that what you're telling yourself?" I asked. "Have you not thought about what Akashi has planned with me? I'm facing you tomorrow. Has he ever requested the presence of another opponent the night before a game?"

He shook his head.

"So, are you taking part in my kidnapping?" I asked and he shook his head again. "Is Akashi?"

At this he did nothing. Didn't shake his head nor did he nod. And I knew why. He had no idea what his captain was up to. But what was more, he wouldn't put it past him for him to kidnap me. And that's how I found out, in what way Akashi was leading his team.

"Do you fear him?" I muttered, looking out of the window to give him the privacy to react how he deemed appropriately.

"I do not. I respect him."

"I see." I said, nodding my head slightly. "When did you become a regular?"

Mayuzumi remained silent. And this caught my attention. I immediately turned to look at him, surprised by the blank look on his face. He was trying to hide his emotions so I couldn't read them.

"Does this seemingly innocent question hide a dark truth?" I asked, my eyebrows raised, waiting for any sort of reaction. I leaned over once more, my silver eyes scanning his face, but he had drawn himself back. I smirked.

"Such loyalty. It's admirable." I whispered, before leaning back on my seat and looking out of the window. The conversation was over. Or so I thought.

"What made you lose yours?"

I smiled bitterly, while looking out of the window.

"I never stopped being loyal to Sei. Unfortunately, he isn't there anymore."

I didn't look over to see if Mayuzumi understood what I was talking about. Or if he had any incline to what had happened. No. I continued to look out of the window, where the lights of Tokyo were passing by. I leaned my forehead against the cold window, preparing myself for what was awaiting me. I could feel his eyes on me on more than one occasion but neither one of us spoke again. That was until the car stopped and the door was opened. I fleetly looked over at him, and he nodded me to get out. I did, my eyes widening slightly at the building in front of us. It was a hotel chain belonging to the Akashis and I tried my best not to roll my eyes. But I couldn't. Mayuzumi got out behind me and then stood so close next to me, without actually touching me. I turned my head around, looking at him questioningly.

"Follow me." Was all he said before he began to walk. The main door was opened for us and we entered the specious lobby, which was deserted due to the hour. Mayuzumi didn't look concerned however. He continued to walk with a purpose and I had not really any other choice than walking after him. We took the elevator, still not bumping into people, until the elevator bell rang announcing our arrival at the highest floor. As soon as the door opened, we heard voices. I looked at Mayuzumi curiously, who had visibly stiffened and was now looking like he was bracing himself. We stepped out and the source of the noise was made apparent in the form of the three Uncrowned Kings, standing in the middle of the corridor.

"No need for you to bring out the Welcome Committee." I muttered, while Mayuzumis eyes hardened. This seemed to have alerted the other three to our presence, because their chatter died down.

"Here to see me get thrown to the wolves?" I asked loudly, not feeling the need to be continuously looked at by them. "Or let me correct myself. Thrown to the biggest and baddest wolve out there."

Hayama and Nebuya were sniggering, while Mibuchi looked slightly scandalised.

"I wouldn't compare Sei-chan to a wolve." He said shocked, but I merely shrugged my shoulders, while we approached them. The other two continued to look at me and I surely had enough.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked loudly, not able to mask my anger. They both shook their heads and while Nebuya looked slightly apologetic, Hayama was grinning widely.

"What does captain want with you?" He asked, excitedly bouncing from one foot to another.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here." I replied nonchalantly.

"You must have an idea." Hayama continued, slowly approaching while his eyes grew wider with excitement by the second.

"I do." I said. "But they end with me in a casket, so I really hope I'm wrong."

"Sei-chan would never!" Mibuchi exclaimed, once more sounding scandalised.

"We will see." I said shrugging. "But if he does. You're all accomplices to my murder."

Nebuya began to laugh and I looked at him in surprise. And so did the rest of them.

"What?" He asked, stopping at once when he realised nobody else was laughing. "She's joking, right?"

"No, you Muscle Gorilla." Mibuchi said calmly. "If a murder were to happen, we would be accomplices."

Nebuya, looking shocked, albeit pleased with the nickname Mibuchi had been calling him, fell silent, clearly pondering about Mibuchis words.

"Imagine your life over…" I said sighing loudly. "And all because of me. And your captain of course."

Mibuchi shook his head, before his blue eyes fell on me.

"You're fascinating. I understand now why Sei-chan is so interested in you."

"He's interested in the things he can't control." I blurted out. "That's why I'm here. His last attempt to break me."

And at this I passed them.

"Which door?" I asked turning back and looking at their shocked faces. Mayuzumi pointed at the one at the end of the corridor and I sighed. Knowing it was time for me to face him, I began to walk towards it. My heart began to beat louder with each passing step and I reached the door sooner than I had liked. I took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment about whether I should knock or not, before I lifted my hand and knocked.

"Enter."

I closed my eyes before doing just that. The room was large, larger than I expected it to be. There was a table in the middle of the room, tea on top of it. Sensing the traditional flooring, I took off my shoes. Akashi was standing by the window looking out to an ocean full of lights, evidentially ignoring me.

"Are you going to hurt me?"

It burst out of me. I hadn't planned on it, nor did I want to say it, but it was too late now. Akashi didn't react. Instead, he nodded for me to come over. I did. For whatever reason I did what he was asking me to do. I was a step behind him, when he beckoned me to look out. So, I did. The view was breath-taking. Wherever you looked there was a buildings and lights. Neon bright billboards. Small little lanterns further down the streets, lamps illuminating living spaces, twinkling lights further above us. Lights and colours everywhere.

"Are you afraid of me?"

And suddenly my heart was torn right open. With that simple question I was brought back to a time, where Akashi would have done anything for me. A time where I never once was afraid of him. Knowing it was a dangerous move, I looked over at him. He was looking at me, and when our eyes met, I gasped.

"Sei?"

Looking at me weren't his heterochromatic eyes. No, his two crimson red eyes were back. And the softness with which he was looking at me, had knocked the breath right out of me.

"Are you afraid of me?" He repeated and I immediately shook my head, still not able to process what I was seeing.

"Good." He said before he slowly raised his hand. I flinched slightly, when it was near my face, but Akashi didn't stop. He took a strand of my hear before gently placing it behind my ear.

"Emiyo, I need you to stop."

"Stop what?" I muttered, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"Stop fighting me."

"How can I stop?" I asked at once, urgency in my voice. "I'm doing this for you."

Akashi shook his head.

"You're fighting a part of me. And when fighting a part of me, you're evidently fighting all of me."

"But you're here now." I muttered, desperation rising in my voice. "How can you be here now?"

"I made a deal with him." He said calmly, his eyes having me in a trance. "I try to convince you to stop interfering with our plan and I get a moment with you."

"But if I stop fighting, a moment is all we get." I whispered, my voice beginning to shake.

"A moment is all we have." Akashi whispered, both his hands on the side of my arms. "You cannot win against him."

I shook my head, trying my best to remain calm. I needed to reason with him. For as long as I had him with me.

"Sei you're strong enough. You can fight him. You don't need him to win."

Akashi shook his head, for the first time dropping his eyes.

"What you don't understand is, I changed because change was required. It was the only appropriate reaction to what was happening around me. I had no choice."

"You always have a choice." I muttered, my voice now shaking with unspilled tears.

"I don't." Akashi said, looking back at me, and the look in his eyes broke my heart. "I never had a choice other than being the best. Perfection. That is what is expected of me. That what it means being an Akashi."

"Sei…" I whispered, wanting to say so many things but not knowing how. He smiled softly at me.

"You always looked past my name. You always saw me for who I was. And I liked who I was in your eyes. You made me feel normal. But you can't do this anymore. I am an Akashi. It's time you realise what this means."

I felt him draw back, and I took his hand in mine out of desperation. But when I looked into his eyes, I knew it was already too late. Sei was gone. Looking at me was the other part of him. Those cold, intense heterochromatic eyes looking right into my soul. I let his hand go at once and I could see the smirk forming on his face.

"And just like that your friend is gone. How does that feel?" He was making fun of me. And that hurt more than any vicious comment on his side. But he wasn't finished with me.

"How does it feel your friend is not strong enough? That I have the upper hand?"

I snorted and anger flashed across his eyes.

"So, that was why you allowed him to take over?" I hissed. "To show me what I have lost?"

I smiled. His cruel, evil smile that told me he had me exactly where he wanted to have me.

"To show you what you will never have again."

I instinctively took a step back from him. My guard was up and he could feel it as well because his smirk showed amusement.

"Are you still intending on fighting us tomorrow?"

Us. A simple but effective way of reminding me that my friend was still hidden somewhere and that I would evidently be fighting both of them.

"I do." I whispered hoarsely. Akashi took a step closer to me and my heart began beating fast.

"You stand no chance." He muttered.

"Then why are you so afraid of me?" I asked gathering every ounce of courage I had in me. "Am I really that threatening to you?"

"Don't flatter yourself." Akashi whispered dismissively. His heterochromatic eyes sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm the only one here. You didn't order Shin to come. I must be threatening you if you're willing to go to such lengths to keep me in check."

"Emiyo enough!" It was order. Not even I could ignore the tone in which he was speaking to me.

"I told you long ago. I don't take orders."

And then it suddenly happened so fast. One moment Akashi had been next to me, when in the next he had me pinned against the window. One hand had grabbed what felt like a pair of scissors and was holding it against my throat, while his other hand was next to my face. I was staring at him in disbelieve and for the first time I felt something I hadn't felt in his presence before. Fear.

"Sei…" I was pleading now. He held the scissor closer to me throat, his eyes containing something wild. Something unhinged. Something dangerous.

"Sei please…" I was barely able to speak. This couldn't be happening. I was utterly petrified, but all I focused on was that one crimson red eye. And then the pressure against my throat eased and I was trying to catch my breath.

"Go." His voice was quiet. But there was something else in it as well.

"Sei…" I muttered and even though everything inside of me told me to run, I remained where I was.

"Sei…" I repeated, but then he looked at me and what I saw made me run for my life. I barged out of the room and almost hit the people standing in front of it. They were all looking at me with wide eyes, but before any one of them could say anything, I ran for it.

I didn't stop for a long time.

In fact, I only did when I was back in the safety of my home. I was on the verge of calling someone, the name already illuminating my display, when I decided against it. This was something between Akashi and I and I had to deal with it. But I also knew something else. And that was that there was no coming back from what had happened if word got out.

I instinctively touched my neck, but I couldn't feel anything with the adrenaline pumping through me. So, I went into the bathroom only to find a red mark on my neck. I immediately splashed cold water on it, which seemed to calm the irritation down. I slowly calmed myself down and I knew I had to get a hold of the situation again. And what was more, I had to get myself ready for tomorrow. Because tomorrow was the day it was going to end. And I was going to fight for it.

No matter what.